U.S. patent number 4,310,745 [Application Number 06/097,559] was granted by the patent office on 1982-01-12 for heating assemblies.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Huebner Bros. of Canada Ltd.. Invention is credited to Joseph Bender.
United States Patent |
4,310,745 |
Bender |
January 12, 1982 |
Heating assemblies
Abstract
A heating strip or film panel is connectable to a source of
electrical power and is sandwiched between one or more facing
panels of flexible or rigid material, and when connected to a
source of electrical power, radiate heat from one or both sides. In
one embodiment, insulation and a reflective sheet may be
incorporated so that one side of the assembly remains cool and the
other radiates heat. If required, the assembly may be used in any
location requiring heat and in which the panels can be mounted such
as in walls, ceilings, floors and the like. In another embodiment,
the panels are flexible and can be wrapped around the object to be
heated. If desired, the panel can be molded into a helment shaped
configuration and can be used, for example, as a hair dryer and
another embodiment, a flexible panel can be routed around dowels to
give an increased cross sectional heat source area as compared with
a planar sheet.
Inventors: |
Bender; Joseph (Winnipeg,
CA) |
Assignee: |
Huebner Bros. of Canada Ltd.
(Winnipeg, CA)
|
Family
ID: |
26707970 |
Appl.
No.: |
06/097,559 |
Filed: |
November 26, 1979 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
|
32099 |
Apr 20, 1979 |
|
|
|
|
794359 |
May 6, 1977 |
|
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
219/213; 219/538;
219/548; 338/280; 392/435 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H05B
3/10 (20130101); H05B 3/283 (20130101); H05B
3/286 (20130101); H05B 3/34 (20130101); H05B
2203/026 (20130101); H05B 2203/011 (20130101); H05B
2203/014 (20130101); H05B 2203/017 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
H05B
3/34 (20060101); H05B 3/28 (20060101); H05B
3/10 (20060101); H05B 3/22 (20060101); H05B
001/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;219/213,345,347,382,385,522,528,538,541,548,549,552,544
;338/212,280,283,284,286,287,291 ;174/117 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Mayewsky; Volodymyr Y.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Ade; Stanley G.
Parent Case Text
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to electrical heat strip or film assemblies
utilizing, for example, a film illustrated and described in U.S.
Pat. No. 3,865,626, and constitutes a continuation-in-part
application of Ser. No. 32,099, filed Apr. 20, 1979 (now abandoned)
which in turn was a continuation-in-part application of Ser. No.
794,359, filed May 6, 1977 (now abandoned).
Claims
What I claim as my invention is:
1. A heating assembly for use with a source of electrical power and
comprising in combination a panel construction including an
insulated heat film panel and a facing material panel on one side
thereof, means to operatively connect said heat film panel with the
source of electrical power, and means to guide said heat film panel
in a corrugated configuration, said last mentioned means including
at least two support and guide members situated in spaced and
parallel relationship with one another upon said facing material
panel, the upper surfaces of said guide members being corrugated,
said heat film panel passing over said corrugations in serpentine
formation and being secured in position to said corrugations,
spacer means on said facing material panel, and a further facing
material panel on the other side of said heat film panel, said
spacer means maintaining said facing panels apart and defining an
air space between said corrugated heat film panel and the underside
of said further facing material panel.
2. The assembly according to claim 1 which includes an insulating
panel on one side of said heat film panel.
3. The assembly according to claim 2 which includes a heat
reflecting sheet between said facing material panel and said
insulating panel.
4. The assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3 in which said assembly
includes at least one rigid facing material panel whereby said
heating assembly is rigid.
5. The assembly according to claim 2 in which the facing panel
remote from said insulating panel is in the form of an open
grid.
6. The assembly according to claim 3 in which the facing panel
remote from said insulating panel is in the form of an open
grid.
7. The assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3 which includes a rigid
facing panel, a heat reflective sheet secured to the inner surface
thereof, a rigid insulating sheet secured to said heat reflecting
sheet, said spacer means being situated along opposite parallel
sides of said facing material panel, said guide members extending
perpendicularly between adjacent the ends of said spacer means.
8. The assembly according to claim 5 or 6 which includes a rigid
facing panel, a heat reflective sheet secured to the inner surface
thereof, a rigid insulating sheet secured to said heat reflecting
sheet, said spacer means being situated along opposite parallel
sides of said insulating sheet, said guide members extending
perpendicularly between adjacent the ends of said spacer means.
Description
Basically the heat strip or film used consists of laminated
synthetic plastic films or sheets which are flexible and between
which is incorporated electrical conductive resistive material. By
varying the quantity of material sandwiched between the flexible
plastic film, varying wattages can be produced. A copper or other
conducting strip is situated on each side edge of the film which
enables connection to be made to a source of electrical power.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In the present invention a construction is shown and described
which incorporates a facing material, the electrical heat strip or
film, insulating material, a reflective film and a support
substrate or combinations thereof.
One aspect of the invention permits the heat to be directed to one
side of the structure form (which may be flexible or rigid) and
prevents the escape of heat from the other side, depending upon the
degree of insulation and the reflective capabilities of the
reflective film.
Another aspect of the invention incorporates the heat strip or film
between two facing materials which may be flexible or rigid, thus
giving two warm sides to the structure rather than one warm side
and one cold side.
The preferred embodiment contemplates a wall or ceiling panel
consisting of a sheet of the heat strip or film which is formed or
guided into a corrugation having a panel on one side which becomes
the warm side, and a wall panel and reflective panel on the other
which becomes the cold side, all of the panels being secured
together by adhesive or the like to form a sandwiched wall panel
which incorporates a source of heat in the form of the heat strip
or film and which can be used in many locations, not only as a
decorative wall or ceiling panel, but also as a heating panel.
Alternatively, it can be utilized as a floor heating panel if
desired.
In accordance with the invention there is provided a heating
assembly for use with a source of electrical power and comprising
in combination a panel construction including a heat film panel and
a facing material panel on at least one side thereof, means to
operatively connect said heat film panel with the source of
electrical power, and means to guide said heat film panel in a
corrugated configuration, said last mentioned means including at
least two support and guide members situated in spaced and parallel
relationship with one another, the upper surfaces of said guide
members being corrugated, said heat film panel passing over said
corrugations in serpentine formation and being secured in position
to said corrugations.
With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become
apparent to those skilled in the art to which this invention
relates as this specification proceeds, my invention consists
essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as
hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the
accompanying drawings in which:
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross sectional view of one embodiment
having one warm side and one cool side.
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing an embodiment with
two warm sides.
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view of an alternative
embodiment particularly suited for use with an enclosure such as a
hair dryer or the like.
FIG. 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of a heating fixture
incorporating the heat strip or film.
FIG. 5 is a schematic end view of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is an isometric exploded view of a wall panel incorporating
the heat strip or film.
FIG. 7 is a plan view of the assembled panel of FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of a panel assembly separated
substantially along the line 8--8 of FIG. 10.
FIG. 9 is a fragmentary side view of one of the guide members with
a portion of the flexible heating film secured within the
corrugations.
FIG. 10 is a partially broken away fragmentary cross sectional view
of the preferred embodiment of the invention.
FIG. 11 is a fragmentary plan view of one embodiment of a grid
which may be used as a facing panel.
FIG. 12 is a fragmentary isometric view of one of the corrugated
guide members.
In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in the different figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Proceeding therefore to describe the invention in detail, reference
should first be made to FIG. 1 which includes a construction having
a facing material 10, a layer or panel of heat strip or film 11 on
one side thereof, forming an enclosed heating element panel,
insulating material 12 which may take the form of a panel, a
reflector film or panel 13 and any substrate, support or facing
panel 14.
The high strength polyester film 11 of low surface resistance is
produced by treating one or both surfaces of a stretched polyester
film of high mechanical strength with a solvent or swelling agent
capable of swelling or superficially dissolving the polyester film
surface, applying electroconductive particles, preferably carbon
black, to the surface in a concentration corresponding to the
desired surface resistance, and then subjecting the film to a heat
treatment. In the case of pigments which are inert to the solvents
or swelling agents employed, such as carbon black, the procedure is
advantageously such that the electroconductive particles are
dispersed in the solvents or swelling agents used for superficially
dissolving or swelling the surface of the polyester film, the
concentration of the dispersion, relative to the proportion of
pigment, ranging from 0.1 to 12.0% by weight, preferably from 0.5
to 5.0%. The quantity of carbon black to be employed per square
meter of the film surface ranges from 0.1 g/m.sup.2 to 5.0
g/m.sup.2, preferably from 0.3 g/m.sup.2 to 3.0 g/m.sup.2. The
dispersion is applied to the film surface and the film is then
subjected to a heat treatment. Preferably, the electroconductive
particles are sandwiched between two layers of relatively thin,
flexible polyester film laminated together and incorporating
electrical conductors shown schematically by reference character
11A, adjacent each side edge in the form of metallic ribbons or
strips or the like, connectable to a source of electrical energy by
means of terminals 11B crimped to the ends of the ribbons or strips
11A and having conductors 11C connected to and extending from the
terminals 11B (see FIG. 7).
The facing material 10 can be any material that is rigid,
semi-rigid or flexible and in any thickness required and due to the
heat generated by the heat strip or film, it is recommended that
this facing material be manufactured from a substance approved by
government regulations for the intended purpose and that the
material be rated for the applicable surface temperature generated
by the heat strip or film incorporated therein.
The material may be sandwiched together with the other components
11, 12, 13 and 14 and secured adhesively or by any other
conventional means, or can be laid up with an air space
therebetween, if desired. Examples of facing materials 10 include
plastic metal or wood panelling or film, flexible or semi-rigid or
rigid, or plasterboard panels and the like.
The heat generated by the heat strip or film 11 is radiated in
general towards the warm side 15 firstly because of the insulation
layer 12 and secondly and more importantly, because of the
reflector film 13 thus giving the warm side 15 and the cool side 16
as shown.
The insulating material can be any material that is rigid,
semi-rigid or flexible and includes air spaces, in any thickness
designed to give the proper separation between the heat strip 11
and the reflector film 13 or other substrate used. Examples of
preferred material for insulation includes spun glass fibre,
rockwool, ceramic wool or other heat resistant material, foamed
material and the like.
The reflector film or panel may be any material that can be
efficiently utilized for the purpose intended. It has been
demonstrated that the most efficient reflector film is made of
aluminum or similar material and the choice of material depends
upon design parameters. An excellent reflector comprises a silver
or other metallic emulsion deposited on polyethylene or mylar film
or the like.
The substrate or other facing panel can be any material or medium
approved by the governing authorities for its intended purposes
such as wood, metal, plastic, plasterboard and the like.
The construction shown in FIG. 1, if flexible can be wrapped around
any container or vessel that it is required to heat and, of course,
the heat is controlled by the design of the heat strip or film 11
incorporated therein, it being understood that it is connected to a
source of electrical energy and controlled thermostatically by
conventional means (not illustrated).
FIG. 2 shows an alternative construction in which the facing
material 10 is on both sides of the heat strip or film 11 thus
giving two warm sides 15, as illustrated. Once again this
construction can be flexible or rigid depending upon its intended
use.
The application shown schematically in FIG. 3 includes a protective
backing or facing material 10A, reflector film 13, insulating
material 12, heat strip or film 11 and inner facing material 10B
all of which are adhesively secured together, it being understood
that the protective backing or facing material 10A is the outer
side of the construction thus giving the cool side 15 on the outer
side and the warm side 16 on the inner side.
The radius shown can be infinite providing it does not interfere
with the safe and proper usage of the flexible heat strip or film
11 and although a curved surface is shown which is hemispherical,
nevertheless it will be appreciated that the construction is
applicable to any configuration and dimension desired.
This type of construction, which is preferably rigid, is ideally
suited to such application as hair dryers and the like, and can be
formed in a dome or hemispherical shaped helmet type
configuration.
FIGS. 4 and 5 show the heat strip or film 11 utilized in a ceiling
or wall heating fixture which includes an elongated casing 18 in
the form of a lamp fixture or the like and having rigid insulation
in the form of urethane or the like 19 adjacent the inner wall with
a reflector film or plate 20 on one side of the insulation 19.
The heat strip or film 11 is preferably formed in the configuration
shown to give maximum effect and is situated below the insulation
19 with a plastic egg crating type panel 21 being situated on the
warm side of the heat strip or film 11, it being understood that
the side 22 of the fitting is the cool side. A cable 23 extends
from one end and may be connected to a source of electrical energy
on one side and to the heat strip or film 11 on the other.
This enables heating units to be suspended or fastened to walls
wherever desired and they are particularly adapted for use with
recessed ceilings with the egg crating 21 conforming with the
conventional egg crating used with recessed lighting associated in
the same ceiling.
Reference should next be made to FIGS. 6 and 7 which show the
construction of rigid wall panels.
In this embodiment, a quarter inch sheet of plywood 24 has a sheet
of heat strip or film 11 stapled thereto by means of staples 24'. A
further sheet or plywood 25 is then placed on the other side of the
heat strip, a sheet of aluminium reflector material 13 is placed
against the other side of the plywood 25 and finally a further
sheet of plywood 26 is placed against the other side of the
reflector film 13. These are sandwiched together and held by means
of adhesive or any other conventional means with the edges taped by
means of a plastic tape 27 extending around three sides of the
sandwich as shown in FIG. 7.
It will be observed that one end 28 of the heat strip or film 11
extends beyond the wall panel construction and is utilized for
connecting the heat strip or film to a source of electrical energy
as shown schematically in FIG. 9 which shows two panels in side by
side relationship. This provides a wall panel having a warm side 15
and a cooling side 16.
FIGS. 8 to 12 illustrate the preferred embodiment of the
invention.
In this embodiment, a substantially rectangular facing panel 29 is
illustrated which may be made from any desired material such as
plywood, plasterboard or the like and is preferably rigid.
A reflective sheet 30 is secured to the inner face of panel 29 by
adhesive or some similar means, said reflective sheet being similar
to the reflective sheet hereinbefore described.
Next an insulating panel 31 is secured as by adhesive or the like
to the reflective sheet 30, said insulated panel preferably being
rigid and being formed from an insulating material as hereinbefore
described.
A pair of spaced and parallel situated support and guide members
are next provided, said members being collectively designated 32
(these are shown in FIG. 8).
These may be formed from wood or plastic and are elongated strips
33 having a substantially planar one edge 34 and a corrugated or
alternatively curved upper edge 35 as clearly shown in FIGS. 9 and
12.
The aforementioned plastic heat film panel 11 is laid between the
spaced and parallel guides 33 and engaged with the matching
corrugations 35 and it may be stapled in position as illustrated by
staples 36 so that it follows the corrugations as shown in FIG. 9.
These guide members 32 are situated adjacent each of two spaced and
parallel edges of the assembly and, if necessary, spacer strips 37
may be secured to opposite edges of the glass fibre blanket panel
31 perpendicular to the guide strips or members 32 thus defining a
space 37A between the inner surface 31A of the panel 31, and the
corrugated surface 11A of the flexible heat panel 11.
Finally a further facing panel 38 may be secured as by adhesive or
the like, to the under surfaces 34 of the guide strips 32 and to
the under surfaces 37B of spacer strips 37.
If desired, edge strips 39 may be secured as by adhesive or the
like around all four edges of the assembled panel and contacts 39A
with terminal pins 39B extending from the heat strip or film 11,
extend through grooves 37B in the spacers 37 for connection to a
source of electrical energy.
This assembled wall panel component, as illustrated in FIG. 10,
includes a cool side at facing panel 29 and a warm side at facing
panel 38. They may be used as wall panels or ceiling panels and, if
desired, may be formed with an open grid facing panel 40 in place
of panel 38 so that they can be formed similar to light fixtures
and placed in the ceiling to direct heat downwardly through the
open grid 40.
The forming of the heat panel or strip 11 in a corrugated
configuration, sealed within the panel assembly, gives a greater
area of heating medium for a specified planar area.
The corrugation dimensions for the guide members 32 can vary
according to design parameters and the radius of curvature of the
heating film or strip 11 depends upon the construction of the film
but should ensure that the safe and proper usage of the film is not
interrupted.
It will of course be appreciated that, if desired, the reflective
sheet 30 and the glass fibre blanket may be eliminated if two warm
sides are required for the finished panel.
The various constructions can be utilized under a variety of
conditions and for a considerable variety of uses.
Given below is a partial list of the uses to which the various
constructions can be placed, in order to supply controlled heat to
the item with which it is used, but it is to be understood that
this list is not meant to be limited:
RAILWAYS
Marshalling yard oil stands
Switches
Oil storage tanks
Tar storage tanks
Oil transportation tank cars
Sulphur transportation tank cars
Chemical transportation tank cars
Aircraft--snowmobiles and tractor heating
Woodchip transportation Goldola cars
Coal transportation Gondola cars
Gravel transportation Gondola cars
Ore transportation Goldola cars
Heated Cars for provisions, fruit, canned goods and vegetable
transportation
Plenums
COMMERCIAL
Buses
Perishable food transport trucks
Oil tank trucks
Warehouse heating
Office heating
Automobile and truck heating
Market gardener greenhouses and cold frames
Piggy barns
Dairy barns
Poultry barns
Beehives
Mining--underground tunnels, eating rooms, water-lines (all
types)
Surface--water-lines
Trenching and excavations
Heating for shops, garages, stores, stadiums and arenas
Northern installations (N.O.R.A.D.)
Grain elevators
Grain dryers
Airport runways
Use in cooking equipment
Ovens
Grills
Fryers
Dishwasher heaters
Plate and food warmers
Steam cooking equipment
Coffee making equipment
Food processing of all types
All industries requiring heating and/or drying processing
Water heating
Auto batteries
Engines
Seats
DOMESTIC
Blankets for all types of heat
Home heating
Mobile trailer homes
Travel trailers
Campers
Heat fixtures
Baseboard heat
Hair dryers
Motel and hotel rooms
Ceiling heat
Wallboard heat
Under floor heating
Wall picture heaters
Solarium heating
Crib heating for premature babies
Stadium heating
All types of space heating including furnaces and boilers.
MEDICAL
Bed warmers
Body warmers
Therapeutic equipment
Although the flexible and rigid embodiments have been mentioned as
being used for different purposes as specified above, nevertheless
it will be appreciated that the constructions described can be
interchanged so far as usage is concerned, depending upon design
parameters.
Since various modifications can be made in my invention as
hereinbefore described, and many apparently widely different
embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims
without departing from such spirit and scope, it is intended that
all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be
interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.
* * * * *